Flanagan says city was eager to avoid same circus surrounding Hernandez's June court date

After former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez’s first appearance last June during a bail hearing in Fall River Superior Court on charges that he murdered semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd, Mayor Will Flanagan vowed the same chaos that occurred outside the Fall River Justice Center then would not happe...

After former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez’s first appearance last June during a bail hearing in Fall River Superior Court on charges that he murdered semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd, Mayor Will Flanagan vowed the same chaos that occurred outside the Fall River Justice Center then would not happen again.

Flanagan said he was “displeased with the actions of a few” following those proceedings.

Hernandez supporters flooded the scene near that bail hearing, and according to Flanagan, were heard chanting, “Free Aaron.”

“As the mayor, and as a former prosecutor and attorney, I could not believe what I was seeing. To see these people running around the courthouse and chasing the sheriff’s vans as though a rock star was leaving the city is unacceptable,” Flanagan said.

“I can’t realize why all of the focus is on Aaron Hernandez and not the victim, who was murdered in cold blood,” Flanagan said Friday. “We can’t lose track that someone was killed here.”

Though Hernandez has not yet been proven innocent or guilty, in Flanagan’s view, he “cannot be portrayed as a role model.”

Flanagan said the behavior of Hernandez’s supporters that day showed “total disregard” for the victim.

“That’s why, going forward, we wanted to have more control,” Flanagan said.

To ensure more order, the city staffed extra police — both uniformed and undercover officers — near the Justice Center on North Main Street on Friday in anticipation of a possible circus surrounding Hernandez’s arraignment.

This time it was mostly a heavy media presence, as dozens of media members gathered for the post-arraignment news conference and numerous news vans were parked along North Main Street and on side streets.

Flanagan declined to say exactly how many more police officers were on scene but said he felt the increased measures were effective.

“What we saw play out this morning was a high police presence and a security plan that was implemented,” Flanagan said.

Flanagan said he recognized that the case is “high-profile,” and the city has “to co-exist with this as it takes place here.”

He said he had the opportunity to meet with the victim’s family. “I wanted to ensure them that the city of Fall River is with them, and will accommodate them during the trial.”

Flanagan said his job was to ensure peace for the businesses and residents near the Justice Center.

“This is a unique case. However, the world is watching,” said Flanagan. “Fall River will be synonymous with the Hernandez trial.”